Australia bowler Ellis joins IPL's Punjab team

Australia pace bowler Nathan Ellis will join Punjab Kings for the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournament.

Ellis, who became the first male player to secure a T20 hat-trick on his debut against Bangladesh this month, was named on Thursday as one of Australia's three reserve players for the T20 World Cup, which begins in October.

Elsewhere, IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore announced three signings, with Sri Lanka duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera and as well as Singapore's Tim David joining captain Virat Kohli's team.

This came after Australian pair Adam Zampa and Daniel Sams and New Zealand's Finn Allen were unavailable.

The eight-team IPL was suspended in May after several players and backroom staff tested positive for the coronavirus amid a devastating second wave of COVID-19 in India.

The lucrative tournament is scheduled to resume from September 19 in the UAE, with the final set for October 15.